Lily was very comfortable with the new atmosphere brought by the Manual. Potions already emphasized hands-on work, and any strange new ideas had to be applied inside a cauldron. Whether or not Ms. Helena provided guidance and innovation, the underground classroom was always filled with smoke. Cauldrons that were going to explode would explode sooner or later, and accidents that were bound to happen would happen eventually.
Boom!
A cauldron brewing an improved version of Elixir to Induce Euphoria suddenly boiled over violently, producing a terrifying sound. The Ravenclaw witch standing beside it stared helplessly at the churning potion, while her assistant backed away in fright.
Lily stepped forward to inspect it. Seeing that something was wrong, she quickly cast a spell and emptied the entire pot of restless potion.
"What ingredient did you add to the potion?"
"Powdered salamander scales, ma'am. The Manual told me to."
"Then this formula doesn't work, dear," Lily concluded. "Don't blame yourself. Failure is common. Remember to tell Ms. Helena what you discovered."
She looked around and said to the other students in the classroom, "Keep trying. Don't forget to copy down any successful experimental formulas with Memory Ink."
The upper-year wizards nodded. After that, all kinds of accidents appeared one after another. Either the potion over here changed color, or the cauldron over there cracked.
"Whew, good thing it's Ms. Collins. If Snape were here, he'd have flown into a rage by now."
Some people could not help muttering. The old bat's voice drifted in from the side door of the classroom.
"Ms. Collins, a word?"
"Snape, class is still in progress."
"I believe it is necessary, assistant teacher." Snape deliberately emphasized her status as assistant teacher.
Lily shook her head helplessly. She looked apologetically to Skyl, asking for his help.
"Could you watch the classroom for me?"
Skyl was acting as Percy's assistant. Hearing this, he smiled and gestured for her to go deal with the old bat. The other Gryffindor students silently mouthed something, probably telling her to do her best. They were clearly treating Lily as a warrior venturing alone into a snake den.
Lily entered Snape's office. A strange miniature leaden cloud floated over the cauldron. Snape sat behind his desk, wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses, head lowered as he flipped through a black notebook. Lily knew this was not the Manual. Although it looked very similar, the details were different.
"What are you doing?" Lily asked curiously.
She quietly approached the desk and sniffed the medicinal scent in the air. It was a strange odor she could not describe, but it felt familiar. Memories of smell were the deepest. A single scent often carried many longings. Lily felt she had smelled something similar before, but she could not remember where.
"That is a question I should be asking you. Collins, Hogwarts Potions classes do not produce trash. You are indulging those fools and allowing them to waste precious ingredients." Snape did not raise his head. His hair, which clearly had not been washed for several days, had become greasy again. It hung down like an old blanket.
Lily asked back, "Do you think all potion formulas can just appear out of thin air? This is necessary waste."
"I assume you have not forgotten that their primary role is to be students." Snape raised his head. His face was sallow and weak, but his spirit was sharp. Even a faint candle flame reflected a bright, cold gleam in his eyes. "The exam content will not require them to brew potions with original methods, and formulas not included in the textbook will be marked as incorrect answers."
"…They are only verifying Ms. Helena's conjectures."
"It seems you still don't understand Potions." Snape spoke meaningfully. "How much savings do you think Hogwarts has to allow seven years and hundreds of students to continuously waste potion ingredients? Yield rate is a necessary indicator. Students brew potions, the finished products are sold, and the profits are used to buy new ingredients. Only then can the school's finances avoid a huge shortfall. There can even be a small profit… My meaning should be clear enough."
Lily found herself unable to refute him. Annoyed, she puffed out her cheeks. This unconscious movement carried the subtle charm of a young witch. She was usually serious and kind, but some of her small gestures still had not lost their childishness. A woman in her twenties was often so beautiful that there was simply nothing to say.
Snape's expression became slightly dazed. He soon lowered his head again and continued staring at the complicated formula in the book.
"Snape, are you very busy right now?"
"Yes. You may leave. Remember to close the door."
"I'm only a temporary assistant teacher." Instead of leaving, Lily conjured a chair and sat down. "You are the professor of this course. I have reason to believe you are exploiting my labor."
"You receive a salary. Besides, you seem to enjoy teaching. Being able to spend every day with the Mr. Potter you worship should make you happy." Snape deliberately used a tone of flattery, but he did not even look up at her.
"I want to resign."
"…"
Snape picked up the long-handled spoon and began stirring the cauldron clockwise. After hesitating for quite a while, he asked, "Can you hold on for a few more days? I can stop interfering with your teaching."
Lily smiled and said, "I've never seen the potion you're brewing right now. What is it for?"
"I already said it is none of your business."
Snape glared at this witch, who kept pushing further and further. The smoke floating out of the cauldron kept merging into the miniature cloud above. Soon, the potion inside the cauldron dried up completely. He took out his wand and cast a weather charm. The cloud began to thunder and rain, and before long, a drizzle of black potion had gathered into half a cauldron.
Lily watched this unusual brewing process in amazement, but Snape's expression was not good.
"What, did it fail?"
The old bat's face was frustrated and ashen. He silently nodded.
"Your spell conflicted with the potion, didn't it?" Lily hit the nail on the head. "Let me help you. I've done research in this area."
Snape did not want to admit he actually needed an assistant, so his eyes shifted away and his expression grew stiff.
Lily spoke before he could. "I can avoid asking what potion you're trying to brew, but if it is finished one day earlier, you can return to the classroom one day earlier. That much is true, isn't it? In that case, our wishes are the same."
"I don't need it."
"Ha. I remember someone is still my defeated opponent. Let a true expert show you what brewing skill really means."
Snape was very angry. His whole body trembled slightly, but when he saw the delicate, triumphant smile on the female assistant teacher's face, he swallowed his words back down.
The witch extended her hand.
Snape stared with disgust at her fair, delicate hand, as if he were staring at a freshly molted snail. Then he slowly reached out.
Lily secretly laughed at how much he resembled a child. She seized Snape's hand and shook it openly. Her palm was as soft as a narcissus petal, yet strong like a mother's.
"Good. Since we shook hands, that means we've made an agreement. No going back, all right?"
Snape agreed as if possessed. His mood immediately became terrible. When he saw the witch smiling with the slyness of a thief, his mood became much worse.
He could only comfort himself in silence. Once Lily was resurrected, everything would get better. When that time came, this self-righteous Ivanna Collins could leave his sight and never bother him again.
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